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Bipartisan Health Care Act

USA119th CongressS-891| Senate 
| Updated: 3/6/2025
Ron Wyden

Ron Wyden

Democratic Senator

Oregon

Cosponsors (1)
Bernard Sanders (Independent)

Finance Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The "Bipartisan Health Care Act" aims to extend expiring health provisions and improve healthcare delivery across Medicaid, Medicare, public health, and prescription drug programs. It also reauthorizes the SUPPORT Act for substance use disorder initiatives and strengthens pandemic and all-hazards preparedness. For Medicaid , the bill streamlines enrollment for out-of-state providers, enhances transparency for Home or Community-Based Services (HCBS), and establishes a demonstration program to expand HCBS coverage. It removes age restrictions for working adults with disabilities, ensures coverage for military families, and improves program integrity by codifying provider screening for deceased individuals. The legislation also modifies disproportionate share hospital (DSH) allotments and introduces measures for accurate pharmacy payments and preventing abusive spread pricing by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). Under Medicare , the Act extends various expiring provisions, including payments for low-volume hospitals, Medicare-Dependent Hospitals, and ambulance services, alongside incentive payments for alternative payment models and a temporary physician fee schedule increase. It significantly extends telehealth flexibilities , such as removing geographic restrictions, expanding eligible practitioners, and allowing audio-only services, while also prolonging the Acute Hospital Care at Home waiver. New provisions include coverage for multi-cancer early detection screening tests and certain home infusion services, improved provider directory accuracy for Medicare Advantage plans, and robust PBM accountability measures. The bill reauthorizes the SUPPORT Act , focusing on preventing overdoses, including those from fentanyl, and expanding support for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and youth prevention and recovery. It extends funding for community health centers , the National Health Service Corps , and special diabetes programs , and makes corrections to the World Trade Center Health Program . Furthermore, the Act strengthens pandemic and all-hazards preparedness by reauthorizing key programs, improving diagnostic test development, enhancing wastewater surveillance, and bolstering the Strategic National Stockpile. Finally, the legislation addresses prescription drug costs by mandating greater transparency and accountability from PBMs for group health plans, requiring full rebate pass-through, and increasing transparency in generic drug applications. It also includes Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provisions related to pediatric drug research, orphan drug exclusivity, and the establishment of an Abraham Accords Office.
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Timeline
Mar 6, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Mar 6, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
  • March 6, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 6, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Health

Related Bills

  • S 119-266: Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act
  • HR 119-1403: LIVE Beneficiaries Act
  • S 119-678: LIVE Beneficiaries Act
  • HR 119-1197: PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2025
  • HR 119-2483: SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025
  • HR 119-1909: Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act of 2025
  • HR 119-1523: PREVENT DIABETES Act
  • HR 119-1980: State Strategic Stockpile Act of 2025
  • HR 119-2450: Prescription Drug Transparency and Affordability Act
  • S 119-3345: PBM Price Transparency and Accountability Act

Bipartisan Health Care Act

USA119th CongressS-891| Senate 
| Updated: 3/6/2025
The "Bipartisan Health Care Act" aims to extend expiring health provisions and improve healthcare delivery across Medicaid, Medicare, public health, and prescription drug programs. It also reauthorizes the SUPPORT Act for substance use disorder initiatives and strengthens pandemic and all-hazards preparedness. For Medicaid , the bill streamlines enrollment for out-of-state providers, enhances transparency for Home or Community-Based Services (HCBS), and establishes a demonstration program to expand HCBS coverage. It removes age restrictions for working adults with disabilities, ensures coverage for military families, and improves program integrity by codifying provider screening for deceased individuals. The legislation also modifies disproportionate share hospital (DSH) allotments and introduces measures for accurate pharmacy payments and preventing abusive spread pricing by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). Under Medicare , the Act extends various expiring provisions, including payments for low-volume hospitals, Medicare-Dependent Hospitals, and ambulance services, alongside incentive payments for alternative payment models and a temporary physician fee schedule increase. It significantly extends telehealth flexibilities , such as removing geographic restrictions, expanding eligible practitioners, and allowing audio-only services, while also prolonging the Acute Hospital Care at Home waiver. New provisions include coverage for multi-cancer early detection screening tests and certain home infusion services, improved provider directory accuracy for Medicare Advantage plans, and robust PBM accountability measures. The bill reauthorizes the SUPPORT Act , focusing on preventing overdoses, including those from fentanyl, and expanding support for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and youth prevention and recovery. It extends funding for community health centers , the National Health Service Corps , and special diabetes programs , and makes corrections to the World Trade Center Health Program . Furthermore, the Act strengthens pandemic and all-hazards preparedness by reauthorizing key programs, improving diagnostic test development, enhancing wastewater surveillance, and bolstering the Strategic National Stockpile. Finally, the legislation addresses prescription drug costs by mandating greater transparency and accountability from PBMs for group health plans, requiring full rebate pass-through, and increasing transparency in generic drug applications. It also includes Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provisions related to pediatric drug research, orphan drug exclusivity, and the establishment of an Abraham Accords Office.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

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Timeline
Mar 6, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Mar 6, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
  • March 6, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 6, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Ron Wyden

Ron Wyden

Democratic Senator

Oregon

Cosponsors (1)
Bernard Sanders (Independent)

Finance Committee

Health

Related Bills

  • S 119-266: Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act
  • HR 119-1403: LIVE Beneficiaries Act
  • S 119-678: LIVE Beneficiaries Act
  • HR 119-1197: PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2025
  • HR 119-2483: SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025
  • HR 119-1909: Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act of 2025
  • HR 119-1523: PREVENT DIABETES Act
  • HR 119-1980: State Strategic Stockpile Act of 2025
  • HR 119-2450: Prescription Drug Transparency and Affordability Act
  • S 119-3345: PBM Price Transparency and Accountability Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted